Stress Management and the balance of life

Sometimes when we take on lots of projects, we can feel invincible. Yet, as the days and months creep up on us, juggling all these extra tasks, can take its toll.

Adding a pandemic to the mix, and juggling looking after kids, homeschooling, and everything else that comes along with it, can be all consuming.

Thankfully, there are some great tools to manage stress, such as  eating healthy and exercise. Also, there’s learning time management skills, delegating, and meditating can also help.

But sometimes, no matter how hard we try, these are all nice ideas, but seemingly impossible to do.

Something deeper may be at play.

If you’ve found yourself in this running rat cycle for a bit too long, it might be time to get a fresh look at what’s going on.

What is stress?

Stress is the sensation we feel when our body produces increased amounts of cortisol.

Cortisol heightens our senses, increases our alertness, and gets the heart pumping.

In small doses, this is actually beneficial. It can help get the job done!

However, stress can believe it or not be addictive. The rush of adrenaline can give an incredible high.

But it comes at a cost. High levels of cortisol will wear you down.

Moreover, life will invariable become unbalanced. And the dreaded ‘burnout’ may encroach on your life without even knowing it.

Polyvagal theory and stress

Our nervous system can be wired to find safety in being in a fight or flight mode in the realm of stress.

When we have an awareness of how our nervous system works specifically, your nervous system, we can slowly break the cycle and release ourselves from the cycle of stress.

Unfortunately our body responds to work deadlines and relationship problems the same way we respond to worrying about being stalked by a lion.

Today, we are surrounded by factors of our own design that cause stress responses.

These heightened, prolonged stress responses can cause a lot of harm physically, emotionally, and psychologically.

Stress lowers our immune system, and prolonged exposure to high levels of cortisol wreaks havoc on our bodies.

When we’re overly stressed, it can have detrimental effects to our mental wellbeing, relationships, work, and general well being, as well as increases cortisol can lead many other health-related problems. 

Signs of stress

There are so many ways stress affects us.

Our body, our minds, and our emotions are all affected when we are subject to prolonged bouts of stress.

Common physical symptoms include headaches, indigestion, high blood pressure, and a weakened immune system.

Mental symptoms include difficulty concentrating and a decrease of self-esteem and confidence.

Emotionally, we become moody, irritable, depressed, and saddled with feelings of overwhelm. Sensations of hopelessness or drowning in insurmountable challenges are common.

Most of these symptoms will probably sound familiar to you. We’ve all experienced one or more of these issues at some point, often in conjunction.

One of the most debilitating things about stress is in how many ways it can alter us all at once.

But let’s face it, it would be almost impossible to go through all of life’s ups and downs without a little bit of stress.

But when these experiences are persistent, chronic, or leading to destructive changes in your life, they need treatment to be resolved.

That’s where a stress management specialist can be an invaluable tool to improving your well-being.

How an online stress management specialist can help

Stress doesn’t need to control your every waking moment and eat away at your mental and physical wellbeing.

I can help guide you on the journey to better identify, address, and work through stressful situations in your life.

In turn, this will help prepare you for whatever life may throw at you.

I take an holistic approach to my stress management in Melbourne.

I’m trained in a range of therapies; somatic psychotherapy, CBT, Person-centred, Emotion Focused Therapy, Psychodynamic, Focusing Oriented Therapy, Interpersonal Process Therapy, and existential.

My main method of therapy when working through stress, tends to be more somatic based, but it really depends on what

Rather than relying solely on CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy), I employ a range of tools and therapies to create customised care.

One of my areas of specialty is somatic therapy.

With me by your side, you can start to free yourself of the negative impact stress is having on your life. Benefits of stress management therapy include:

• A better ability to cope with stressful situations and not feel overwhelmed
• Increased confidence and self-esteem
• Restore and increase your sex-drive
• Restore and deepen personal connections that may have been damaged due to stress
• Regain a sense of autonomy over your everyday life
• Improve the ability to sleep at the end of a long day, and improve the quality of that sleep
• Learn to identify, address and control the mental and emotional effects of stress
• Reduce the physical burden of stress on your body

Stress Management in Melbourne That won’t add to your Stress

I find that many people have trouble fitting a therapist into their daily life without feeling like it’s simply adding to their sense of overwhelm. On top of all of their other obligations, they must now fit in the time to travel to, see, and travel from, a therapist.

That’s why I have flexible working hours, seven days a week. Whether it’s before or after work, or even on the weekends, I want to be available to you.

What’s more, I also offer online zoom sessions. That way you don’t even need to worry about leaving your home — you and I can share a session online, from the comfort of your own home.

No worrying about traffic, parking, or getting somewhere on time. Simply log in, have your session with me, and then go about your day.

Appointments that suit your schedule, in a manner that suits your routine.

When you are ready to start managing your stress safely and effectively, I eagerly look forward to joining you on your journey. If you’re already at that stage, please feel free to reach out today!